In places where Council-owned bushland adjoins urban and semi-rural residential areas, it is important that effective bushfire prevention measures are put in place - both by Council and residents.
Gold Coast City Council is a leader among Queensland local governments in undertaking bushfire prevention activities in its bushland including Conservation Areas. It works closely with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) and the Rural Fire Service (RFS) to ensure effective prevention measures are in place.
In addition, Council works closely with the South East Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium (SEQ F&BC) based at Griffith University, to protect the ecology of its bushland within the fire protection program.
In partnerships with QFRS and the SEQ F&BC, Council has developed or is in the process of developing Bushfire Management Plans for important or 'at risk' bushland reserves which are located close to homes and communities.
These plans guide long-term bushfire prevention and management activities and are developed in consultation with the communities concerned.
In areas where Bushfire Management Plans are not yet finalised, Council undertakes short-term prevention activities in order to protect homes and properties from immediate fire risk. These activities are either mechanical maintenance or controlled fuel reduction burning. Two areas where this has occurred are the Coombabah and Tugun Hill Conservation Areas.
2010 controlled burn program
Each year Council, in conjunction with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS), undertake mechanical or fire-based fuel reduction in key areas to address bushfire risk.
Reduction burns are undertaken to protect nearby properties and structures, by burning ground fuels such as leaf litter and grass. These types of fires are generally 'cool' - they are done in the right type of weather so that the fire burns slowly with small flames to avoid damage to sensitive vegetation and risks to life and property.
In conservation areas, the bulk of the conservation zone will be retained in its current natural state. At all times, Council endeavours to balance environmental values and protection with the need to reduce the risk of bushfires to homes, properties and lives.
All nearby residents will be notified via post of controlled burns planned near their properties, so issues such as asthma can be considered.
For further information please contact Bill Kennedy, Council Bushfire Manager on 5581 1533, or gcbushfireplanning@dcs.qld.gov.au
Preparing for bushfire season
Living in a bushland setting poses a risk from bushfire, no matter where you live in Australia. Even here on the Gold Coast the bushfire risk is real and many homes and communities in Gold Coast City neighbour bushfire-prone areas
The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service provides the following tips to help you prepare for this bushfire season.
1. Before a bushfire warning
- Ensure your emergency plan is up-to-date and your emergency kit is ready
- Clean gutters, trim overhanging tree branches and bushes around your home
- Make sure your water supply will be sufficient if there is a bushfire
- Clear fuel around the house such as wood piles, boxes and cans of fuel
- Check water systems, pumps or generators are in working order
- Ensure fire trucks can obtain access to your property
2. During a bushfire event in your area
- Listen to the radio for information and updates
- Follow instructions from local authorities
- Disconnect hose and fittings and bring inside
- Go inside for shelter
- Wear protective clothing
- Drinks lots of water
- Check and patrol for embers inside, particularly in the roof space
- Check family and pets
Be prepared for the effects of a bushfire including heat and wind, smoke, noise, loss of power and phone lines, and loss of water pressure.
3. After a bushfire
- Listen to the radio for information and updates
- Continue drinking lots of water.
- Check for spot fires and embers inside and out (including roof space)
Report all fires to 000.
For more information, please visit the Queensland Rural Fire Service website.
Bushfire Management Coordination Group
The Bushfire Management Coordination Group (BMCG) brings together all of the agencies responsible for bushfire management to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to bushfire management activities throughout the City. The group also provide a forum for Council to consult with relevant agencies about any strategies which are proposed to enable it to meet its responsibilities in this area.
The BMCG include representatives from the following organisations:
- local fire brigades
- government departments
- Council's Property Industry and Environment Advisory Committees
- academic institutions
- adjacent local authorities
- and the insurance industry
The Bushfire Management Strategy Taskforce was invited by Council to assist with the ongoing implementation of the Strategy in recognition of its valuable contribution to the preparation of the Bushfire Management Strategy (BMS).
The primary purpose of the BMCG is to provide a mechanism for all agencies with an interest in bushfire management to assist and consult with Council regarding the ongoing implementation of the Gold Coast City BMS, thereby ensuring an integrated approach to bushfire management throughout the City. Topics raised within the BMCG will focus on options for managing the risk that uncontrolled bushfire presents to human life and property within the City whilst recognising that fire is an integral component of the natural environment.
Frequently asked questions
1. Why is Council clearing or burning in its conservation and bushland areas?
Council, like all landowners, is responsible for fires that occur on its land and spreading to neighbouring property. It is legally required to manage the bushfire hazard at all its properties including conservation zones. While bushfires don't often occur, Council must be prepared for a fire and ensure damage to homes and people is prevented or minimised.
2.What is the bushfire risk for Council's conservation and bushland areas?
Council and the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) have identified these areas as having a bushfire risk which means it is important to undertake bushfire hazard reduction measures on an ongoing basis.
3. What is Council going to do/doing to reduce the bushfire risk in its bushland and conservation areas?
In a number of these areas Council and the QFRS will, over time, develop Bushfire Management Plans in consultation with local communities and residents. Council will undertake either mechanical or fire-based fuel reduction in a number of key areas in the shorter term in order to address more immediate bushfire risk. This may involve creating inner and outer protection zones where houses immediately adjoin bushland. It may also involve constructing fire trails to enable access for fire fighting crews in the event of a wildfire.
In some areas fuel reduction will be undertaken by spraying or removing non-native vegetation that increases the fuel load and the bushfire risk.
In some places fuel reduction burning may be required if this is the most appropriate action for the vegetation in the area and if the terrain makes mechanical work dangerous or too difficult. Burning may also be carried out for wildfire mitigation to reduce intensity of large bushfires and in some locations it may be used to encourage re-growth of native vegetation. Council has engaged the QFRS to plan and undertake these burns on its behalf.
In conservation areas, the bulk of the conservation zone will be retained in its current natural state.
At all times, Council will endeavor to balance environmental values and protection with the need to reduce the risk of bushfires to homes, properties and lives.
4. What impact will there be on the environment in these areas? What will happen to the animals like the koala that lives out the back?
There will be some impact in the inner and outer protections zones with the clearing of logs, groundcover, shrubs and small trees. The area will have a park-like appearance.
A licensed wildlife spotter/catcher will be onsite when necessary during Council's clearing work in order to relocate wildlife to undisturbed parts of the conservation area.
Most of the core of Council's conservation areas will be retained in their current natural state and potentially enhanced, because rubbish dumping and weed infestation are less likely to occur. In some areas trees native to the area will be planted to increase canopy cover and reduce weeds.
When hazard reduction burning is used, the fires are planned for weather conditions where a 'cool' fire burns the vegetation in a patchy or incomplete pattern. These fires also burn slowly and with much lower flames than in wildfire conditions thus giving wildlife opportunity to escape and unburned patches to escape to.
5. How often will Council be doing this work?
Council has a program of identifying and maintaining buffer zones on a regular basis, approximately three to four times a year, in areas where mechanical maintenance is required. Fire trails also undergo regular maintenance throughout the year. Sites for hazard reduction burning are identified annually in joint planning with the QFRS.
6. Can residents do anything to help prevent bushfires in these areas?
Yes. You can help by ensuring your own property is bushfire ready.
Before the fire season:
- display a prominent house number or other identifier
- make sure fire trucks can get onto your property
- ensure things that can burn are well away from the house (for example garden mulch, wood piles, boxes, garden furniture, cans of fuel, rubbish bins, and so on)
- create low fuel areas with driveways, paths, gravelled areas and lawns close to house
- remove, cut or mow bushes, grass and weeds around sheds, fences and gates for at least 20 metres from house
- clear and properly dispose of overgrown grass and shrubs
- trim overhanging trees
- remove leaf litter in roof gutters
- remove piles of timber, building scraps and rubbish in your yard and dispose of properly
- mow lawns regularly to keep the grass low
- clear any overhanging branches from roof
- clean gutters and buy gutter plugs
- install screens or shutters on all windows and doors
- protect under floor paces with non-combustible sheeting or mesh
- ensure external house timbers have a good coat of paint
- point LPG cylinder relief valves away from the house
- if you have a water system(s), pumps or generator, make sure they are in working order - don't rely on electrical supply
- ensure sure your water supply will be sufficient if there is a bushfire
- buy a battery powered radio to listen to bushfire updates
- monitor fire information, listen to local ABC Radio
- drink lots of water
- if on acreage or a farm, move stock to fully grazed areas
- remove flammable door mats
- check generator, petrol pump and sprinklers; protective clothing kits and fire fighting equipment
Contact the Department of Emergency Services Customer Contact Centre on 1300 369 003 or your local fire station for advice.
Springbrook Public Conservation Estate Fire Strategy
The Springbrook Public Conservation Estate Fire Strategy was an initiative of the Gold Coast City Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.
The Springbrook Public Conservation Estate Fire Strategy addresses fire management on State Government and Council-managed conservation lands at Springbrook - Springbrook National Park, Numinbah and Austinville Forest Reserves Springbrook, Numinbah, Purlingbrook and Austinville conservation areas. The strategy relates only to public land at Springbrook.
Council, QPW and QFRS encouraged public input on the draft strategy, which closed 9 June 2008.
Further bushfire information
For further information please contact Bill Kennedy, Council's Management Officer on 5581 1533, or gcbushfireplanning@dcs.qld.gov.au